Page 53 of Off The Ice

“You know I’m always here for you, Cassie,” she promised.

I looked at her, feeling the truth behind those words and clinging to it like an anchor.

“I know.”

Chapter Eighteen -

Liam

BRODY:What the hell happened last night???? I left for two secs to grab another drink and when I got back you guys were gone????? ??????

Isaw the text from Brody the second it came in while I stared at the screen, waiting for a text from Cassie. Surely, she’d need a ride home at some point, and I told her to call me when she was ready.

Whether or not she’d take me up on that was anyone’s guess. I was starting to realize just how stubborn she could be about things, which would be cute if it weren’t for the fact that she was making life harder for herself with these random hills she chose to die on.

I shook my head, sending an apology text to Brody before slipping the phone away. The volume was on. I’d hear the textwhen it came through. For now, there were plenty of other things I could do in the meantime.

My apartment was covered with traces of her just from the few days she’d been here. It made the space feel warmer somehow. Comfortable in a way that I hadn’t managed to make it on my own.

I smiled softly at the sight of her slippers by the couch, her blanket thrown over them, and a mug on the coffee table in front of them.

I noticed that she’d taken up residency in that particular spot whenever she had downtime, making it her own.

Now I sat there, taking note of the things she’d left behind. The coffee table had a few papers spread over it, with a pair of scissors abandoned beside the half-cut-out sheets of paper.

On them were cartoon images of stick figure people with big black phrases of things likeSAFE HANDS, NO BITING,andQUIET VOICE.

“What the hell?” I murmured to myself, staring down in amusement at the pictures.

Was Cassie really going to work and getting bit by small children? And I thoughtmyjob was tough. At least none of the guys on another team ever sank their teeth into me.

I made breakfast and ate it. Washed the dishes and put them away. I checked my phone again because I was a sadist who couldn’t help it, finding no texts waiting for me. And by the time the clock turned 10 a.m., I was already out the door, driving to Maggie’s place.

I should’ve just texted her.I thought as I made my way up the staircase to Maggie’s apartment, feeling like a stalker.

In my head, I had justified it. I had even picked up two coffees for Cassie and Maggie, so I had a reason for stopping by other than the real reason: I wanted to put her in my car and take her home before she could use that ludicrous app again to get a ride from a total stranger.

I wasn’t going toforceher to come with me. I was just there to offer a ride if she wanted it.

Which you could’ve done over text.

I shook the thought away. I was already right outside the door. Technically, I could turn around and drive home before Maggie gave me a ton of shit for how pathetic I was being, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave.

I knocked once, then stepped back, wondering why my heart was accelerating after knocking on the door of my fucking sister’s house.

There was the sound of shuffling behind the door and muffled feminine voices, and then the door opened.

“Liam!” My mother beamed, her face jumping at once from shock to elation in seconds. “Maggie, your brother’s here!”

Shit.

How had I forgotten she was staying here?

“Hi, Mom,” I said, shuffling on my feet.

I hadn’t seen her in a few months, not because I was avoiding her per se, but just because it was never super convenient to get wrapped up in the attention that came with a visit from her.

“Well don’t just stand out there!” She gestured wildly toward the apartment. “Come in, come in!”

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